HEY THERE!  ☻  I'M DUSTIN MATTAIO MARA  ⛟  A VISUAL AND TYPE DESIGNER  ♛  GET TO KNOW ME BELOW  ↯
HÅfa adai + Salut
My full name is Dustin Mattaio Pangilinan Mara. I was born between two generations and have lived all across the Pacific Ocean. My life is full of highs and lows, wins and losses, juxtapositions and contrasts. Each give me insight into my biases and an empathy for a range of realities.
I graduated from the University of Washington with a Bachelor of Design in Visual Communication Design (cum laude, with excellence) and Bachelor of Arts in International Studies (cum laude). While there, I was selected to the 2022 Husky 100 cohort, voted to be on our senior show jury, and was chosen to represent our class as one of the school’s commencement speakers.
Following that I pursued the age-old dream of moving to the big city to pursue a career in design at Lippincott in New York. I later returned back to Seattle to work at Studio Matthews, which focuses on environmental graphics and exhibition design. Both are award-winning workplaces that have since set the tone for my outlook on design. 
While my work from these two experiences has been recognized and awarded, so has my personal freelance work via my practice TAIO TYPE — we have been recognized by ADC and TDC for work completed in print, brand, and type design.
Recently, I moved to Paris to pursue further education in type design. From the TypeParis program I produced a 6 master, variable typeface that was awarded a completion diploma with distinction. I’m currently exploring scripts beyond Latin, such as Arabic and Hangeul.
When I’m not working, I’m helping with a few Seattle-based non-profits with a spectrum of missions that I’m passionate about — from bringing awareness to gender based violence to creating diversity in a predominately white sport. This work drives me as much as my passion for and career in visual design.
I’m the happiest when I’m in a foreign country people watching, adding to my Casio watch collection, and of course during a mid-day nap. I’m also fascinated by language, culture, and type design — and how all three intersect. If I’m not doing any of the above I’m either in a boat coxing, rowing, or coaching!
Accolades + FEATURES
2x Award of Excellence, Communication Arts Typography
Silver ADC Cube, Typography via Typeface / Font Systems
Bronze ADC Cube, Typography via Typeface / Font Systems
5× TDC Winner, Certificate of Typographic Excellence
3x Shortlist, Communication Arts Typography
Ranked #1 Designer, Young Ones Awards
Ranked #11 Overall Creative, Young Ones Awards
Dean’s Medal Nominee, UW College of the Arts
Husky 100 Nominee + Selectee
Natalie Malone Graduating with Excellence Award, UW SOAAHD
Kenneth L. Striker Design Award
Oarsman of the Year, Everett Rowing Association
4× Feature, The World’s Best Typography
3× Feature, TDC Global Exhibitions
Interview, Global Visionaries
Best of Cargo, Cargo.Site
Studio Feature, Designer Daily
Commencement Speaker, UW SOAAHD
Interview, Steady State Network


SEEKING DESIGN ROLES
I’m a visual and type designer whose work sits at the intersection of language, culture, and type. I'm looking for opportunities to work in or teach visual or type design.
I'm primarily looking for opportunities in London, UK or remote and can start immediately.
I'm also available for freelance type-based projects.
cHEERS
If you've made it this far and are looking for more, you should continue to the rest of my site by clicking here, where you'll find older work, my Husky 100 story, and more!
You can view my portfolio deck here.
You can contact me via read.cv, linkedIn, or email.